The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-03-30
HOUSE PLANTS AND SPRING.
instructions for Reporting nnd Cnring for
Plants nj ilis scRsnu.
tho London Queen.

tFrom the I.ondon Quccn)
Who're plants have been wintcrcd ii
the dwelling house they will need care
lnl attention during tho month o
March. When the weather is sufficient
y mild the plants should be taken from
their winter quarters and any dust tina
may have accumulated on the foliar,
should be washed of with sponge nm,
water, md every dead or dccaying lea
should be removed. Those subject!
sufficiently hardy to bear exposure may.
with great advantage, be placed on tin,
outer window.sill, but they should no.
DC SO placed while there is Il cold wine
blowing, nor must they remain out al
night. The very best time to put tho
plants out Tor the first time is when t.,
warm, gentle rain is falling, aptly termed
"Growing' weather.
Now is the time to mako preparation,
for spring potting, n very necessary
operation. The plants to be shifted, on
rcpottcd, should be watcrcd thorough,
two days previous to the day tho opera,
ton IS to be performed, SO that the sol
may be IN a proper state, neither wet
nor dry, and the fresh compost used
should be i'll IL similar condition. II
new pots are to be used, let them bc
soaked in water an hour or SO before the
plants arc put into them; ii the pots
employed be old ones, they should be
well washed inside and out and allowed
to become perfectly dry. The drainage
should be perfect, and each plant should
have Il pot suitable to its size. Over the
hole III the contro Of the base of the DOT
a large piece Of broken flower pot, or n
small oyster shell, should be placed, the
concave side downwards; thon smaller
pieces OF flower pot should be added
or small, clean bits of broken brick will
do-to the depth OF ut least an inch: the
plant that is to be rcpOttcd should he
taken upside down in the left hand. the
stem OF the plant between tue middle
fingers, the rim of the pot gently tupppd
upon the edge of the table or other con
vcnlent solid substance, when the BOT
may be lifted with the right hand MS
easily as the cXtinguisher from Il candle.
The ball OF soil about the roots should
be examined; if healthy tie plants may
be put into Il pot Il size larger than the
one from which it has Just boon taken:
Il any dcc&yed roots present themselves
these should he nearly cut of. The re.
pottlng should be done firmly, the soil
beng brought Up to within half an inch
OF the toy Of thu rim of the pot; this will
leave space sufficient for Watering pur-
poses.
In the matters OF situation, soil and
pottlnG, plants require a considerable
diversity Of treatment, yet although
these points arc very essential in pyopa-
cation, they arc not vital in respect to
plants purchased during their season Of
bloom; the cultivation, or rather, |
should say, the after treatment, lies in a
nutshell. They must receive water ana
air IN plenty, but the supplies must be
regulated according TO the season and
nature Of the plant. With the execution
Of such subjccts-thirsty subjects l may
say-as musk, India-rubbcr plant and
Arum ctlnopicum, no plants ordinarily
grown III rooms, should stand in sauccrs
full OF water, and those plants ! have
mentioned should only be allowed TO do
SO during their season of active growth.
with other plants the proper plan is
never to give water until the soil is dry.
then give plenty, sufficient, indeed, to
Saturatc every particle Of soil, root and
fibre, and when the surplus water has
passed through into the saucer, the
latter, after the expiration OF Il quarter
OF an hour or SO, should be cmptiCd,
wiped dry and replaced.
When the weather is favorable, that is
to say, when neither torrents OF rain,
frost or cutting winds prcvnil-thc plants
should be taken from the room into the
open air, bringing them back | have
already SGld-towards evening.